Charter Amendment Allows Appointment of Independents

Residents registered as independents—or with a third party—could soon be eligible to serve on boards and commissions in Baltimore City.

Under the current charter, only Republicans can serve as minority representatives on city boards and commissions but on Monday, a charter amendment to change that was introduced to the City Council.  

If the council passes the amendment, city voters would decide whether to approve it during November's general election.

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who is the lead sponsor of the amendment, said she decided to sponsor the legislation because she “liked it,” and because many of her constituents are registered with a third party or are unaffiliated.

"I have a lot of Green party people in my district," Clarke said.

Councilman James Kraft, who represents Southeast Baltimore, said the change was needed, because unaffiliated voters outnumber Republicans in his district.

Hassan Giordano, a conservative political blogger, drafted the charter amendment as part of the Independent Political Action Committee.

He said the legislation is needed because there are more unaffiliated voters like himself than Republicans in the city. Giordano said unaffiliated voters are already disenfranchised by not being able to vote in primaries.

"I just think that it’s very important for us to be part of the democratic public process," Giordano said.

The Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill Tuesday morning at City Hall.

Follow North Baltimore Patch on Facebook and Twitter.